Imaging and Applied Optics
24 June 2012 – 28 June 2012, Monterey Plaza Hotel, Monterey, California, USA
Housing and Travel
About Monterey, California
Experience much more than just the Congress!
Monterey is one of the most historic cities in California. Original adobes are found on many street corners. Some are open for tours while others house contemporary businesses. Visitors can wander through Monterey's rich past, from California's first theatre to Colton Hall, where the state's original constitution was written.
Monterey County highlights everything that's best about California. From Monterey's seaside restaurants to the Salinas Valley's hillside vineyards, from Big Sur's redwood groves to Pebble Beach's perfectly groomed golf courses, from Salinas's old-fashioned rodeo to Carmel-by-the-Sea's elite music and art festivals, Monterey has a feast of fun just waiting to be sampled.
For more information about Monterey, please visit http://www.monterey.org/visitorinfo.html or http://www.seemonterey.com/
Check out the June Event Calendar: http://www.monterey.org/en-us/aboutmonterey/citycalendar.aspx
What others say about Monterey:
Travel
Weather
Monterey enjoys mild, sunny weather throughout the year.
June Weather in Monterey:
Average High Temperature: 65 °F
Average Low Temperature: 50 °F
For the most current weather forecast, please visit here.
Electricity
Standard 120v/60Hz voltage electricity is used in the United States. More information on international electricity.
Currency
The US Dollar (USD) is the currency of the United States. Credit cards are widely accepted; VISA and MASTERCARD are the most popular. Traveler’s checks are accepted at currency exchanges or banks, but are not as widely accepted. For the latest currency exchange click here.
Hotel Reservations
STAY WITHIN THE BLOCK!
Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa
400 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
Hotel Reservation Deadline: 22 May 2012
Perched dramatically over the Monterey Bay, the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa combines elegant European architecture, sweeping coastal views and sophisticated style to create the perfect vantage point from which to enjoy the gentle sounds of the surf, the fresh scent of sea air and the sight of otters, seals and dolphins at play. View the Hotel Video to learn more about Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa.
*SPECIAL OFFER! The Restaurants at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa are offering all OSA Congress attendees a 10% discount off restaurant menu prices, all you have to do is show your badge!
Room Rates
Rates will be honored 3 days prior and post conference dates
|
Single/Double |
USD $189 |
Extra Person |
USD $0 |
Taxes and Fees (subject to change) |
Occupancy Tax :10%
State Tax: 8.25%
California Tourism Assessment Fee: 0.105%
Monterey County Tourism Assessment Fee: USD $1.00/night |
For the latest currency exchange click here.
Book your Hotel Reservation
- ONLINE
Please note that our online system will only accept reservations that are within the contracted dates. Any guests requesting to extend their stay outside of the block must call our reservation's team.
- Call Toll free: + 1 800.334.3999
Reservations are available 24-hours a day.
Request: 2012 Imaging and Applied Optics Congress
If you book within the block, you can enjoy complimentary High Speed Internet Access in All Guest Rooms and Meeting Rooms.
Check-in: 13:00
Check-out: 15:00
All reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card. Hotel will charge one night’s room and tax at the time of reservation. This amount will be refundable up to 72 hours prior to scheduled arrival date. In the event of a no show, one night’s room and tax will be charged and the reservation will be canceled.
Parking at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa is available at USD $20.00 per day.
A Hotel Shuttle is available to and from the Monterey Peninsula Airport (only) and to destinations in Monterey BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call + 1 800.334.3999 and ask to be directed to the Bell Service.
Hotel Restaurants & Lounges
Spa
Transportation
Airline Travel
OSA has appointed American Airlines the official airlines for the Imaging and Applied Optics Congress in Monterey, California. Discounted air travel is available. You may visit the American Airlines website at www.aa.com to search for available flights and use the authorization code 6662AX to receive your discount. You may also call the American Airlines Meeting Services Desk directly at 1.800.433.1790 for assistance with reservations and ticket purchases.
Area Airport
Getting to Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa could not be more convenient. Fly directly into Monterey's hassle free airport located just 10 minutes from the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. Daily non-stop flights from Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and San Francisco and connecting flights from hundreds of cities provide easy access to the Monterey Peninsula. The Monterey Peninsula Airport, with over 80 daily flights, is serviced by American/American Eagle, Delta/Delta Connection, United/United Express, and US Airways (formerly America West). Visit the Monterey Peninsula Airport Website at www.montereyairport.com
If you are a guest at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, a Hotel Shuttle is available to and from the Monterey Peninsula Airport BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call + 1 800.334.3999 and ask to be directed to the Bell Service.
Other Airport Options
Mineta San Jose International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
By Ground
Ground Transportation Options at Monterey Peninsula Airport
SuperShuttle
SuperShuttle is the nation's leading shared-ride airport shuttle, providing door-to-door ground transportation and provides service to and from 28 major airports in 23 cities. Reservations may be made on the SuperShuttle website or by phone at 1 800.BLUE VAN (258.3826).
SAVE! A special discount is available to attendees of the Imaging and Applied Optics Congress. Save 10% when booking a roundtrip ticket by going to www.supershuttle.com, click on make a reservation, and enter CQAFL in the Group Code field at the bottom of the page.
Taxi
USD $25 – Monterey Peninsula Airport (each way)
All prices are estimates, and taxis are metered fares.
Rental Car
Avis Rent-a-Car is pleased to offer low rates with unlimited mileage to participants attending the Imaging Congress. For reservations call (800) 831-2847and refer to Avis Worldwide Discount #D004076. Reservations may also be made on the Avis website. World Wide Telephone Numbers
Other
Airbus service (Monterey-Salinas Airbus - Website: www.montereyairbus.com) to and from airports in San Francisco and San Jose are available. If you book on-line, you will receive USD $5 off your ticket.
USD $40 – San Jose International al Airport (each way per person)
USD $50 – San Francisco International Airport (each way per person)
Ground Transportation Options at San Francisco International Airport
Ground Transportation Options at San Jose International Airport
Driving Directions
Directions from San Francisco
Driving time from San Francisco to Monterey is approximately two hours.
Take Highway 101 South (toward Los Angeles). Remain on Highway 101 South and exit at the Monterey Peninsula Exit - Highway 156. Highway 156 will become Highway 1. Drive South on Highway 1 approximately 20 miles to Pacific Grove/Del Monte exit. Travel on Del Monte for 2 miles. Proceed through the tunnel, and Del Monte will become Lighthouse Avenue. Take the first right (veer) after the tunnel, off Lighthouse Avenue onto Foam Street. At the second stop light, turn right on Reeside Avenue. Go to the end of the street and turn left on Cannery Row. The Hotel is located on the right side of the street, at 400 Cannery Row.
Directions From The South
Take Hwy 101 North to Salinas and take Hwy 68/Monterey Peninsula exit. Turn left on Blanco Rd. to Hwy 68. Turn left on Hwy 68. Follow Hwy 68 West until you reach Hwy 1. Follow Hwy 1 South/Monterey exit to the Monterey/Fisherman's Wharf exit. Turn right on Camino Aguajito and follow to Del Monte Ave. Turn left onto Del Monte Ave. Follow Del Monte through the tunnel, bearing right, which turns into Lighthouse Ave. Veer right after the tunnel off Lighthouse Ave. onto Foam St. At the 2nd light turn right on Reeside Ave. Go to the end of the street and turn left onto Cannery Row. The Hotel is located at the end of the block at 400 Cannery Row.
From Monterey Peninsula Airport
With over 80 daily flights, the Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) is a quick 10-minute drive from the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. There are direct flights from Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego and San Francisco and it is serviced by American/American Eagle, Delta/Delta Connection, United/United Express and US Airways (formerly America West).
From San Francisco International Airport/ San Jose International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is 100 miles north of Monterey, with a driving time of approximately two hours. San Jose International Airport is 75 miles north of Monterey, with a driving time of approximately 1.5 hours. Ground service is available from both San Francisco and San Jose Airports to the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Hotel Parking Information: USD $20.00 per day per vehicle
Letters of Invitation
Important information regarding Topical Meeting Visa Invitation Letters (please read):
Invitation letters take OSA Management 7-10 days to process. Please fill out all the required information on the form completely to the best of your ability. If you are presenting a paper, include the title and session in which the paper will be presented, or if you are exhibiting, please indicate so in your request. Please note that each individual requesting an invitation letter must fill out a separate form. All letters will be sent in PDF form to the email address provided. If a paper letter is required, please respond to the email. Requested paper letters will be sent complimentary through airmail. This option may take a few weeks to arrive. If you wish to expedite the process, letter will be spent through Federal Express with the recipient’s Federal Express account number or credit card number with an expiration date, please also include your billing address in the request email. OSA Management reserves the right to request further information regarding the company or affiliation of the attendee to ensure the validity of requests.
Meeting attendees do not need to wait until your paper is accepted to request a Visa Invitation Letter.
Individuals requiring letters of invitation to obtain travel visas must apply using the online form.
Imaging and Applied Optics Congress Letter of Invitation Request Form
The visa application process to enter the United States has become subjected to greater degrees of scrutiny than in the past. For this reason, the application process can take up to six months or more. You will need to apply for your visa as early as possible but no later than three months before you wish to enter the United States. One factor contributing to the increase in the processing time is a personal interview that is now required for most applicants as a standard part of visa processing. Once it is known that a visa is necessary for travel, the individual needs to contact the embassy or consulate to schedule an appointment for screening. OSA is not able to contact U.S. embassies in support of an individual attempting to gain entry into the host country to attend the conference.
For detailed information about applying for a visa refer to the U.S. Department of State website and the National Academies International Visitors Office website.
If you have any questions about the visa invitation letter application process, please contact:
- Email: invitations@osa.org
- Fax: +1 202.416.6100
- Mail: OSA Management – Invitation Letter
Optical Society of America
2010 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
There are 27 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program. If your country is on this list, and you are traveling to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less with a valid passport that meets U.S. requirements, and the listed conditions do not apply to you, you do NOT need a visa. Otherwise, you need to obtain a visa.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Travel Guide
Visa Waiver Program Frequently Asked Questions
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
As of 12 January 2009, all nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries will be required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States under the VWP. This authorization may be obtained through the Electronic System for Travel
See You In….
